SHC Group B: Champions set down a marker
June 01, 2017
Kiltale's Stephen Donoghue with Mark Healy Kildalkey during the opening round of the Meath SHC at Pairc Tailteann
Kiltale opened their bid for a fourth Ted Murtagh SHC title in a row with a decisive win over Kildalkey at Pairc Tailteann on Wednesday night
Kiltale ....... 1-19
Kildalkey .....2-10
Kiltale put down a significant deposit on the points in the opening three quarters to lead by 1-17 to 0-6 after 44 minutes.
Moments after Paddy Conneely was denied a goal by a vigilant defender, Conor Kearney fired home Kildalkey's opening goal, making the most of the opening after his team mate Gary Kelly accidentally collided with Anthony Donnelly.
Then in the 48th minute, Kiltale suffered a bigger setback with the red-carding of Mark O'Sullivan. The champions managed just two points in the final 18 minutes. James Kelly's 52nd minute effort was one of the scores of the game.
It was matched by a Jack Regan 57th point that brought the full-forward's tally to 1-9. Moments earlier Conor Kearney's goal from a deflected free softened the scoreline further and even raised the outside possibility of a dramatic finale. The Kildalkey number 15 top scored with 2-7 while Evan Fitzgerald was only other player in blue to score twice.
Kildalkey's Podge Geoghegan closes in on Jack Regan Kiltale during the opening round of the Meath SHC at Pairc Tailteann
Kiltale saw out the hour but look set to be without Mark O'Sullivan when they face Killyon - the side they beat by the narrowest margin in last year's SHC final - in round two.
Kildalkey last won Jubilee Cup in 2011 but never looked like avenging last year's semi-final loss to Kiltale. Next time out Kildalkey take on Dunderry.
Kildalkey's Conor Kearney posted the first score of the campaign from a free within a minute of the off. The champions responded positively with four points on the spin in the opening 11 minutes.
Jack Regan scored three of them (two frees) while Anthony Forde - with assistance from James Kelly - made it 0-4 to 0-1. Kearney's second free trimmed the deficit slightly.
Kiltale's Cathal McCabe with David Harmon Kildalkey during the opening round of the Meath SHC at Pairc Tailteann
Kiltale - assisted by the breeze blowing towards the town - kicked-on with 1-5 without reply in just over six minutes. Full-back Phillip Garvey - capitalising on Kildalkey's two-man full-forward line - pushed up and got the sequence going.
Jack Regan's 18th minute goal made it 1-6 to 0-2 with Ross Ryan providing the assist for the full-forward to drive to the net from about 25 metres. Kiltale led by 1-11 to 0-4 at the break.
Kiltale struggled to find their scoring range early in the second-half, but soon regained it to register six scores in seven minutesand effectively secure the points.
Kiltale - Shane McGann; Anthony Donnelly, Phillip Garvey (0-1), Ciaran Ennis; Ronan Ryan, Stephen Donoghue, Conor Shirren; Anthony Forde (0-1), Padraig Kelly (0-1); James Kelly (0-2), Cathal McCabe (0-1), Mark O'Sullivan (0-1); Peter Durnin (0-3), Jack Regan (1-9, 0-7fs), Ross Ryan. Subs - Fergal McCabe for Ross Ryan (53), Eamon Ryan for P Kelly (57).
Kildalkey - Paul Fagan; David Conneely, Padraig Geoghegan, Brin Kelly; Andrew Fagan, David Harmon, Mairtin Doran; Paddy Potterton, Mark Healy; Evan Fitzgerald (0-1), Gary Kelly, Sean Heavey (0-2); Paddy Conneely, Mark Healy; Conor Kearney (2-7, 1-6 fs). Subs - Eoin Potterton for A Fagan (41).
Referee - Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael)
